Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-05-16
UNDER ORDERS,

4
sherIdan's Authority for his Devasta-
zion of the Shenandoah Valley.
Utica, N. z, May 13-In view of the
severe criticisms made by General Rosser
on General Sheridan for the work he did
in Virginia during the closing days OF
the rebellion, the dispatches printed be-
low vii! be of interest. They are copied
from the originals, which are now in the
possession Of William Blaikie, of this
city. They were transcribed into cipher
and sent by s. II. Beokwith, OF this city,
who at the time was ia the secret service
of the United States:
City Point, Va, Aug. 16, $3.50 p. m.
1S64-Maior General Sheridan, Win
chester, Va: Ii yon can possibly spare
q division of cavalry send them through
Loudoun county to destroy and carry
off crops, animals, negroes and all men
under fifty years of age capable of bear
ing arms. In this way you will get many
of the Mosby's men. All male citizens
under fifty can fairly be held as prisoners
| of the war, and not as citizen prisoners
| If net already soldiers they will be made
| SO the moment the rebel army get hold
OF them. U, 3. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Headquarters armies Of the United
States, City Point, Aug. 81, 1S64-Msjor
General Sheridan, Charleston, Va: In
stripping Loudoun county of supplies
ETC., impress from all loyal persons, &C
that they may receive pay for what il
taken from them. am informed by
the assistant secretary of War that Lou
: doun county has large population ot
, Quakers, who are all fayoraoiy disposed
. to the union. These people may be ex-
empted from arrest. u. s. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Il Headquarters armies of the Unite,
, States, City Point, Va, Aug. 25, 2:30 p
, M, 1864 Major General Sheridan, Hall
town, Va: Telegrsphed you that | hac
? good reasons for believing that Fltzhugl
2 Lee had been ordered back here. nov
: think it likely that all troops will b
ordered back from the valley excep
what they believe to be the minimum
9 number to. sustain you. My reason
for surprising this is based upon th
fact that yielding up the Weldon roa
Y seems to be q blow to the enemy b
!. cannot stand. 1 think | do not ovel
il state the loss os the enemy in the la:
j. two weeks at 10000 killed and wounded
y We have lost heavily, but ours has bee
It mostly in captures when the enem
u gained temporary advantages. Watc
closely, and if you find this theor
a correct, push with ell yigor, give stt
" enemy no rest, and If it is possible Z
.. follow the Virginia Central road folio
N that far. Do all the damage to railroad
Ie and crops you can, carry off stock of q
in descriptions and negroes SO as to pr
vent further planting. II the war is
'e last another year we want the Shena
OF doah valley to remain barren waste.
ne U. s. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
ba Headquarters Armies OF the Unit
- States, City Point, Va, Sep.. A. 10 a. +
Us 1854 sior- General Sheridan, Oharle
be ton Va: In cleaning out the arm
bearing community from Loudo,
county and the subsistence for armi,
a exercise your own judgment es to W
an should be exempt from arrest and as
who should receive pay for their stot
fs- grain, sto. lt ia to our interest that tx
a county should not be capable of NJ
an sisting hostile army aud at the sai
~ time We want to inhict as little hardsh
upon union men aB possible.
no us GRANT, Lieutenant General
his City Point, Ys,. Nov, 1864 Maj
at General Sheridan, Cedar Greek, Y
,ar Do you not think ii advisable to moi
.oA all citizens living oA the Blue Ridge
ION move ont north of the Potomac all IL
lty, stock, grain ard provisions Of every